Elmo, others in trouble in Times Square

April 10, 2013 11:29 AM

Photo: Richard Drew/AP

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An Elmo character poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

An Elmo character poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor ... more

Photo: Richard Drew, AP

An Elmo character poses for photos in New York's Times Square,... Photo-4449292.60112 - Times Union

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A Super Mario character, left, uses a woman's mobile phone camera to photographer her with a pair of Elmo characters in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) less

A Super Mario character, left, uses a woman's mobile phone camera to photographer her with a pair of Elmo characters in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few ... more

Elmo and two Hello Kitty characters pose for photos with a little girl in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) less

Elmo and two Hello Kitty characters pose for photos with a little girl in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the ... more

Photo: Richard Drew

Elmo and two Hello Kitty characters pose for photos with a little... Photo-4447399.60112 - Times Union

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A woman gives a monetary tip to characters in New York's Times Square after she photographed the girl with them, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) less

A woman gives a monetary tip to characters in New York's Times Square after she photographed the girl with them, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome ... more

Photo: Richard Drew

A woman gives a monetary tip to characters in New York's Times... Photo-4447401.60112 - Times Union

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An Elmo character, left, uses a woman's camera to photographer her with a Cookie Monster character, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

An Elmo character, left, uses a woman's camera to photographer her with a Cookie Monster character, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought ... more

People have their photos taken with Super Mario, Hello Kitty, Elmo and Minnie Mouse characters in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

People have their photos taken with Super Mario, Hello Kitty, Elmo and Minnie Mouse characters in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought ... more

Photo: Richard Drew, AP

People have their photos taken with Super Mario, Hello Kitty, Elmo... Photo-4449293.60112 - Times Union

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Lauren Larcara, of Oakland, N.J., poses for a photo with Laure Vanegas, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

Lauren Larcara, of Oakland, N.J., poses for a photo with Laure Vanegas, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has ... more

Photo: Richard Drew, AP

Lauren Larcara, of Oakland, N.J., poses for a photo with Laure... Photo-4449296.60112 - Times Union

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Elmo, Super Mario, and Hello Kitty characters pose for photo, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

Elmo, Super Mario, and Hello Kitty characters pose for photo, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing ... more

Steve Crass, dressed in a Transformer-style outfit he made, poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

Steve Crass, dressed in a Transformer-style outfit he made, poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to ... more

A man is has his photo taken by a Hello Kitty character, right, as he poses with Cookie Monster, another Hello Kitty and Super Mario characters, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. less

A man is has his photo taken by a Hello Kitty character, right, as he poses with Cookie Monster, another Hello Kitty and Super Mario characters, in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of ... more

Photo: Richard Drew, AP

A man is has his photo taken by a Hello Kitty character, right, as... Photo-4449313.60112 - Times Union